One of the difficulties about compassion can be that there are many different definitions and ways of understanding it. For example, some people describe compassion as a feeling or emotion, or say that it’s the same as empathy.
In CFT, we have a very clear definition of what compassion is:
a sensitivity to the suffering of self and others, with a commitment to relive and prevent it
It can sometimes be helpful to have a printed version of this (see here, and below) as we can use this to discuss with people engage in CFT about how this definition holds two different psychologies of compassion
- Engagement with distress and suffering. This involves qualities that allow us to notice, engage with, tolerate and understand suffering and distress, whether that’s in ourselves or someone else
- Taking wise action with distress and suffering. This part of compassion involves learning how to work with distress – whether our own or someone else’s – in wise ways
If you’re interested in learning more about compassion, and self-compassion in particular, can help you, check our our compassion self-help and resources
And if you’d like to find out more about how the two parts to compassion each contain 6 different competencies or skills, then click here for the compassion circles
Definition of Compassion - Two Psychologies
These handouts have all been adapted from the wonderful work of Paul Gilbert – find out more at www.compassiontemind.co.uk
